Staff at a Moray ice cream shop were thankful for more than just the sunny weather bringing about a boost in their trade yesterday.
The Fochabers Ice Cream parlour was the scene of celebrations after scooping a national award naming it as the best of its kind in Scotland.
Manager Sheila Gray attended the Entertainment and Hospitality Awards event in Glasgow on Sunday night to claim the prize.
Yesterday, she said she was gobsmacked when she was presented with the prestigious plaque, and described it as an “awesome” moment.
Ms Gray, who is famous for concocting some eye-catching flavour combinations at the store, said she was now planning on making a batch of champagne ice cream to toast the big win.
She added: “I think we are starting to get a reputation for picking up awards like this, and the shop has been crazy busy with the sunny weather as well.
“We have had a lot of new customers who are keen to see what we are about.
“There were 900 people there at the ceremony, it was such an awesome moment going up to accept the plaque.”
She added: “So now I think I’m going to have to put on some champagne and strawberries ice cream as a kind of celebration ice cream.”
Ms Gray brought employee Olivia Greenwood to the awards ceremony with her, as a reward for her four years of dedicated service at the Fochabers High Street shop.
The popular Moray outlet defeated competition from as far afield as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Kilmarnock to take the title of Scotland’s Best Ice Cream Parlour.
It also topped opposition from closer to home in the form of Portsoy Ice Cream and Stew n Drew’s in Hopeman.
Stew n Drew’s co-owner Stewart Sutherland said: “These awards were nominated by the public, which shows that people think highly of the ice cream we’re producing in Moray.
“I was delighted to be shortlisted, and it’s great that the Fochabers parlour was recognised as the winner.
“It’s all good for the area.”
